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Who doesn’t love that? I know I do. Particularly if it has any association with Cirque du Soleil. So I was super-stoked when I was invited to catch Slava’s Snow Show while it’s in town for a short run at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Now first of all, what the heck is a “Slava”? Well, Slava is the most celebrated living clown” and is founder of the Slava’s Fools Unlimited. His “Snowshow” is rated as a “classic of the 20th century” and has been touring the globe for 22 years non-stop. (Woah – he must be exhausted!) He’s also the original Cirque du Soleil’s clown genius.

“The deeply imaginative Slava, who draws on the vaudeville approach grounded in the
innocence of discovery, takes his audience on a dreamlike journey reconnecting them with their
inner child.”

Simply put, Slava’s Snow Show is an awesome theatrical experience and a profoundly moving spectacle full of vibrant wondrous images, delightful comedy, enchanting music and snow — lots and lots of snow.
If you have a chance you should check out this entertaining show before it melts its way out of Orlando. I don’t think you’ll be sorry….

And here’s a little video I captured of a rather sticky moment. Sorry for the low quality.

* Full disclosure: While I was invited to this event by a friend, we were provided complimentary tickets. I was not asked nor encouraged to write about it.

As you’re all well aware, we love food. And Orlando is really coming into its own with regard to interesting, creative places to dine and experience food. So we love this video from our friends over at Visit Orlando!

We’ve undoubtedly asked this from our fans before, but what are some of your most favorite culinary adventures throughout Orlando? It could be a favorite, staple of Central Florida residents, or a hidden gem that we need to know about. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

It’s getting closer and closer. And we’re getting more and more excited! It’s been fun to watch the progress of the development of the Orlando Eye over the past year, and while the exact “opening date” hasn’t been announced yet, the completion of the passenger capsules on the wheel can only mean that time is near.

“One thing you can’t do with babies, you can’t give them steak. – Flavor Flav”

Yeah…I pretty much just quoted Flavor Flav. But it seemed appropriate. And another reason babies are…well, let’s just say babies are missing out.

I don’t eat steak too often, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t crave it from time to time. Medium rare, thank you very much. So I was intrigued when I learned that STK, a modern steakhouse mixed with the ambiance of a sleek lounge, will be adding a Central Florida location to their intimate roster of restaurants. Owned by TheONEGroup, “STK offers small, medium and large cuts of meat, as well as naturally raised options and market fresh fish entrees. Aside from steak, signature items include Parmesan Truffle Fries; Lil’ BRGs; Shrimp Rice Krispies; Sweet Corn Pudding; and Jump Lump Crab Salad.” (Description courtesy of TheONEGroup’s website.) By the way…you had me at Parmesan Truffle Fries….

Not too terribly much has been revealed about the arrival of this delicious steakhouse, other than it will reside at The Landing at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), and will open sometime this year. Exact date has yet to be revealed. We’ll surely be dialed in, though, and will share info here as we learn about it.

Here’s a little preview of what we can expect:

Photos courtesy of PR Newswire.

Make no bones about it – the additions to the I-Drive 360 entertainment complex just keep growing and growing! One which was just recently announced that caught our eye is Skeletons: Animals Unveiled!, and it’s pretty much what you would imagine it would be.

“Skeletons will exhibit over 400 skeletons in clever never-before-seen poses and dioramas and brand visitors with a whole new respect for the animal kingdom.”

Are they all real? Apparently so. Each of these species will be represented in a way that’s natural to their environment and habitat. So chances are you’ll run into this guy:

A place that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup? SOLD! I’m in. No more details needed. But I’m going to share a few more nonetheless.

Tom + Chee is a gourmet grilled cheese chain (I’m sorry, I just love the sound of that!) originally based out of the Midwest (Ohio), and even made several appearances on the [stressful to me] show Shark Tank, and they’re bringing their delicious flavor to us folk who love to eat in Central Florida.

At the moment there are five (5) locations set to open in the area, the first of which–not surprisingly–is in Lake Buena Vista just near Downtown Disney. It’s currently slated for an April opening. (Other Central Florida locations in possible discussions are Waterford Lakes, the University of Central Florida area, Oviedo, and Altamonte Springs.)

Grilled Mac + Cheese

Kind of excited about this like I am, based on what you’ve heard so far? Check out the Tom + Chee menu and then head over to give your favorite dish a try later this spring. In case you’re interested, one thing I’m definitely looking forward to trying is the Grilled Mac + Cheese sammy. Yeah, that baby you’re looking at over on the right. Mmmm….

Another thing worth taking a look at are the fancy grilled cheese donuts, which is apparently “a thing” for Tom + Chee. Know what? I ain’t hatin’ it. I mean, the majority of the ones currently featured on the menu are a bit out there fore me, but I’ve got my eye on one or two as potential victims…errr, dining companions?

We all get cravings from time-to-time, right? Maybe a hankerin’ for a great burger? I dare to say even the strongest of our vegetarian friends experience these cravings (although they may both deny and resist said cravings). It can often be a very mooving handkerin’, too.

So if you’re looking for hamburgers in Orlando for which can subside this craving you might wanna turn to Smashburger, a newly opened burger and shake joint near Fashion Square Mall (there’s also a location on Alafaya Trail; addy below).

A couple of friends and I dropped in not too long ago and I must say the burger I experienced is one of the best in Central Florida. Hands down. So let’s cover off on a few things.

The Good

Obviously I just raved about the burger itself that I had. I opted for a BBQ, Bacon & Chedder complete with fried onion rings on top. Oh yeah – I mean, I was going all in on this day. “Go big or go home” is what they often say, right? There are many creative options to choose from so it wasn’t easy for me to land on this selection, but I’m quite satisfied with the outcome of my decision.

BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar Burger

Shall I go grab you a napkin? I get the sense you might be drooling just a bit. And what’s crazy is this is the “regular” size – there’s also a “big burger” option. I might feel just a tad guilty about the latter so I think I’ll stick to the regular portion on all my future visits.

Now you might see a couple of my new favorite friends trying to photobomb the burger in the photo above. Yup – I’m referring to those amazing fries. Normally I prefer mine a little thicker (please see post on Scratch in Winter Park) but turns out I was just fine with these. Cooked to perfection, hot, and dusted with a light flavor of salt & pepper…. Lord, I need these in my life at this very moment.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, french fries are like my biggest weakness in life. I suppose it’s better than some other options….

One other thing worth mentioning–although I can’t testify from personal experience–is that Smashburger has a reputation for having amazing milkshakes. At least, that’s the assumption I made coming from the happy sounds both of my dining companions kept repeatedly making shortly after ordering and receiving theirs. The shakes certainly provide for a temporary happy place.

The Not Great

Honestly, the only thing I’d say I thought was a little odd about this place is the dining room. Sure, it’s clean and they do a great job of extending their brand through images and entertaining wall murals, but I just didn’t feel it had much personality or any real sense of a vibe. But other than that…can’t win ‘em all, right?

Smashburger’s Dining Room

So what do ya think? Tempted? Even if burgers aren’t your thing you still might want to check this place out at least once. The Smashburger menu boasts a collection of “out of the box” chicken sandwiches along with salad dishes. There’s even a menu for the little tykes.

So why “smash”burger? Well, the beef is actually “smashed” into its patty state with ingredients that are fresh, never frozen (one of the restaurant’s key components to sustaining quality and flavor) including 100% Certified Angus Beef.

There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” – George Bernard Shaw

Well, that may not necessarily be the ultimate truth, but dang – I LOVE FOOD! And as you know I’m always eager to find new places to experience in Central Florida. So when a friend of mine recently suggested we head to Winter Park to try out Mynt, a new Indian Cuisine restaurant near Park Avenue, I was totally game.

Folks, this place is amazing! It’s been over a week since we checked it out and I seriously can’t stop thinking about it.

Mynt’s Front Entrance

This was a lovely Sunday afternoon, anticipating a late quiet lunch at a new place. What we ended up having was one of the best, most interesting (and affordable) brunches in Central Florida. After being greeted and seated at one of the tables in the tiny dining room, we’d not even cruised through the menu when Mynt’s brunch special was offered up to us. “Sure,” we said without even really asking what the items consisted of or how much it cost. (We may have possibly been influenced by the complimentary glass of champagne that joined the party.)

Cheers, y’all!

Now, I’ll be honest with you. Both looking over the menu and hearing the dishes breezed over by the server, I didn’t know half of what was about to get layed out in front of me. But I’ve had Indian food several times in the past and have always found it enjoyable. So instead of trying to even pretend to school you on the amazing plates that were part of the fixed brunch menu, how about I just show you.

That’s a lot of food, right? And save for one dish (one certain kind of chicken was a tad dry, but still had good flavor), everything was so delicious. One minor complaint I would have–if any–is the dishes were brought out very quickly, one after the other, but that’s probably because the restaurant wasn’t that busy when we were there.

Dessert

Corner of Dining Room

So, did I do it justice? Can you even assume how good everything was? Well, if you’re still not completely sold check out Mynt’s menu and view some of the dish photos.
Location deets:

Can’t believe 2014 has come to a close and we’re already running fast-and-furious into 2015! Where does the time go, friends?

The end of last year was quite busy and we weren’t able to pay as much attention to our dear little site as we would’ve liked. However, we’re starting fresh and will do our best to keep you informed about all the fantastic things going on in The City Beautiful. Through our eyes, of course!

In the meantime, we recently ran across this great video put together by our friends at Visit Orlando, showcasing many of the exciting things that happened in Central Florida last year. Got any favorites, or were you involved in any of the big projects? We’d love to hear about it.